2025 IGEM International Women’s Day Awards

Winner: Nadine Ramsey, Local Controller, Brisbane Unit, State Emergency Service 

Nadine has won the 2025 IGEM Champion of Change award for her transformative leadership and contributions to the Brisbane Unit, State Emergency Service (SES). As the first female Local Controller, she has fostered a culture of inclusivity, transparency, and ethical governance. Nadine has created a safe and welcoming environment, significantly increasing the number of women in leadership roles and inspiring volunteers to bring their authentic selves to the team. 

In 2024, she led the Brisbane Unit's historic participation in the Brisbane Pride March with the Queensland Police Service and SES volunteers, symbolising the Unit's commitment to diversity. Nadine’s leadership is defined by addressing challenges head-on, using feedback from volunteers to develop a Strategic Vision focused on training, recruitment, culture, and governance. She has introduced improved governance practices, streamlined operations, and enhanced training programs to ensure engagement and capability. Her Recruitment and Retention Vision reflects her commitment to inclusion: "The Brisbane Unit is a place where volunteers feel welcomed, supported, acknowledged, and proud. High performance is celebrated and rewarded."
Nadine continues to lead transformative projects, including leadership programs, asset optimisation, and skill-building initiatives. Her dedication and impact have made the Brisbane Unit more efficient, inclusive, and agile, leaving a lasting legacy of positive change.

Highly Commended: Tracey Carroll, Acting Inspector, Capability and Development, Queensland Police Service 

Acting Inspector Carroll has demonstrated exceptional leadership and adaptability during the Machinery of Government restructure, transitioning disaster management responsibilities from the Queensland Fire Department to the Queensland Police Service from 2023. She played a key role in recruiting and supporting over 70 staff from various agencies, leading an unprecedented cultural integration with sensitivity and expertise.

As Secretariat for the Office of the IGEM Review Working Group, she helped develop a Government Action Plan to operationalise the restructure, improving governance and collaboration across 23 government departments. Her work directly influenced legislative reforms and updates to the State Disaster Management Plan, enhancing Queensland’s disaster readiness.

Currently a Senior Disaster Management Operations Officer, Acting Inspector Carroll continues to improve disaster preparedness, collaborating with over 140 agencies since 2023. She is also recognised for her empathetic support to remote Indigenous communities, including her work with Wujal Wujal after severe flooding in 2023. Her leadership during uncertainty and dedication to inclusivity have set a benchmark for Queensland’s disaster management.
 

Winner: Sarah Corcoran, Chief Executive Officer, Plant Health Australia 

Sarah Corcoran has demonstrated exceptional leadership in disaster management, particularly in biosecurity emergency response, risk mitigation, and crisis coordination. With over 30 years of experience, she has been instrumental in improving Australia’s disaster preparedness and safeguarding agriculture, trade, and the environment from biosecurity threats.

Sarah's achievements include leading the eradication of citrus canker in the Northern Territory, earning her the 2019 Australian Biosecurity Award. She pioneered innovative response methods, such as odour detection dogs for invasive pest detection, setting a global benchmark. Her rapid response plans, like those for Red Imported Fire Ants at Brisbane Airport, showcased her strategic expertise. As Chief Executive Officer of Plant Health Australia, Sarah strengthened national biosecurity frameworks and championed community-driven disaster management initiatives, such as the "Join the Ant Hunt" campaign, which mobilised communities and boosted pest reporting rates by 800%.

Her commitment to inclusivity is evident through her work with Indigenous communities, small-scale farmers, and remote producers to ensure equitable disaster preparedness. Sarah's leadership during pest incursions, including banana freckle disease and cucumber green mottle mosaic virus, has protected industries worth billions. Her advocacy for stronger biosecurity policies and her mentorship of emerging leaders have left a lasting legacy.

Sarah's innovative, inclusive, and impactful approaches have transformed biosecurity disaster management in Australia, making her a highly deserving recipient of recognition on International Women’s Day 2025. Her contributions continue to shape a resilient future for Australia’s biosecurity and emergency response sectors. 

Highly Commended: Nicole Mandalios, Manager, Policy and Planning, Disaster Management Branch, Queensland Health 

Nicole is a dedicated disaster management policy professional, focused on improving health outcomes for Queenslanders. She has been pivotal in shifting how heat impacts are perceived within Queensland Disaster Management Arrangements. Her achievements include the Queensland State Heatwave Risk Assessment, the Heatwave Management Subplan, implementing Australian Warning System-compliant heatwave messaging, and creating the Heatwave Impact Forecasting Tool, a nation-leading innovation.

Nicole also played a key role in Queensland’s COVID-19 response, establishing early structures and health guidelines. Nationally recognised, she collaborates on inter-jurisdictional groups and is a  mentor for researchers and practitioners. Her commitment and leadership have strengthened Queensland’s capacity to manage heatwaves, ensuring better health outcomes as climate challenges grow.
 

Winner: Jenny Hou, Associate Professor in Strategic Communication, Queensland University of Technology 

Dr Jenny Hou is a leading researcher and advocate whose work has empowered culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities to actively contribute to disaster preparedness and resilience-building. Her participatory, community-led approach ensures that emergency communication strategies are co-designed with CALD communities, rather than imposed upon them.

Supported by the Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund and the American Arthur W. Page Center, Dr Hou’s research provides groundbreaking insights into how cultural factors influence disaster risk communication. Collaborating with organisations like the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland and the Cairns and Regional Multicultural Association, she has partnered with leaders from Bhutanese, Chinese, Congolese, Filipino, Japanese, Colombian, and Indonesian communities to co-develop resources that strengthen disaster readiness.

Her contributions go beyond academic research, with findings published in leading journals such as the Australian Journal of Emergency Management and Communication Research and Practice. Dr Hou has created community-focused resources—including virtual storytelling galleries, videos, and toolkits—that not only improve disaster preparedness but also build trust between emergency services and diverse communities.

Dr Hou is nationally recognised for her innovative and inclusive approach to disaster communication. Her participatory storytelling methods empower CALD communities to share their experiences and strategies, fostering stronger connections with emergency management agencies. Her efforts have enhanced capacity-building through co-designed workshops and tools that directly benefit multicultural organisations and leaders.

Dr Hou’s work exemplifies the importance of culturally responsive disaster communication strategies. Her research has shaped government practices, strengthened grassroots initiatives, and ensured CALD communities are actively involved in disaster resilience efforts. Her contributions reflect a deep commitment to equity and innovation, making her a deserving advocate for inclusive disaster preparedness in Australia.